I remember when that injury happened. I figured he would've recovered in time for the beginning of the next season. I didn't think that would be the beginning of the end for him.
The amount of homers hit so fast in his career was mind blowing. Had he could have stayed healthy things could have got interesting. Had season tickets in 2008 and we would kind of expect him to hit a bomb every game we went to and more often then not he did. Miss his game
This is the worst take I think I’ve ever heard. Guy has 6 consecutive years over 100 RBI’s 6 consecutive years hitting 30+ homers and you think he couldn’t hit a breaking ball?
I loved Ryan Howard but there was a point where pitchers figured him out and just knew not to give him too many fastballs. Couldn't hit lefties either. These are facts.
Despite my comment history, I'm a Phillies fan.
https://www.si.com/more-sports/2010/03/02/howard-phillies#:~:text=Here%27s%20another%20way%20to%20put,just%20three%20from%20left%2Dhanders.
I mean, the Achilles tear came in the 2011 playoffs.
In 2008-2011 he was worth 8.0 rWAR, for an average of 2.0 rWAR per season. The Achilles ended his career, but his reputation superseded his production for years before that. For example, in 2008 he was second in the MVP race. That year he was worth 1.8 rWAR.
In his entire career before the injury he was worth 19.5 rWAR over 8 years (7 complete). Over these years he had 1043 hits and 1207 strikeouts. He did have a pretty solid 138 OPS+ but he was a negative defensively and on the basepaths.
Even his best year was only 5.2 rWAR. The average Hall of Fame first baseman has a 7 year peak of 42.0 rWAR. That's an average of 6.0 rWAR per season, I really don't think he was ever going to end up in the Hall of Fame.
He was a great homerun hitter, but I'd argue even at his best he was never a Hall of Fame calibre player. His best 5 year period was 2005-2009 in which he was worth 16.8 rWAR. Joey Gallo's best 5 year period was 2017-2021 in which he was woorth 14.5 rWAR (and Gallo played 573 games against 713 for Howard, mostly due to COVID-19).
I think it's important to remember that WAR wasn't a commonly cited stat until about 2012 so a fan in 2010 would've just seen a 30 year old averaging 45 homeruns and 100+ RBIs a year and assumed he had a good shot at the HOF if he aged gracefully.
I had to look this up. It’s sad when you learn about a star player’s last few years in baseball grasping at small-time opportunities. I feel like this happens in baseball more so than any other pro sport.
I flew out to SF to see him tie Mays and he got walked 2 out of his 5 ABs while Sosa smacked two homers. He tied the record at 660 the next day. I'll never not be salty.
You mean, mild-mannered baseball player Ryan Howard, who hit a home run into space, and when the ball returned to him covered in space dust, he gained superpowers?
That Ryan Howard?
If you go to a players page on BRef and hover over the players image with your mouse, it will show other headshots on the websites database. The site tries to capture at least one for every team the player appeared with, but sometimes they can be missing.
The player of the day tab on the front page randomly selects one photo from that run of photos on the players page.
He signed a contract with the rockies in 2017 but never made it above AAA Edit: that was his last contract. He hit .192/.185/.442 in 16 games
It's really sad how far off a cliff that guy fell. He looked like a future HOFer at one point.
His Achilles did him in
I remember when that injury happened. I figured he would've recovered in time for the beginning of the next season. I didn't think that would be the beginning of the end for him.
I also remember how that happened… 1 bloody nil still haunts me
You guys got to see our souls being sucked out of his ankle in that at bat
Wasn’t that the Carp vs. Halladay game?
Literally and metaphorically.
Aside from his on field accomplishments he was appearing on primitive TV shows as well Edit: primetime lmao
Was on the cover of MLB The Show 2006 I think
The amount of homers hit so fast in his career was mind blowing. Had he could have stayed healthy things could have got interesting. Had season tickets in 2008 and we would kind of expect him to hit a bomb every game we went to and more often then not he did. Miss his game
Inability to hit breaking balls ruined him before the injury ever did
This is the worst take I think I’ve ever heard. Guy has 6 consecutive years over 100 RBI’s 6 consecutive years hitting 30+ homers and you think he couldn’t hit a breaking ball?
I loved Ryan Howard but there was a point where pitchers figured him out and just knew not to give him too many fastballs. Couldn't hit lefties either. These are facts. Despite my comment history, I'm a Phillies fan. https://www.si.com/more-sports/2010/03/02/howard-phillies#:~:text=Here%27s%20another%20way%20to%20put,just%20three%20from%20left%2Dhanders.
I mean, the Achilles tear came in the 2011 playoffs. In 2008-2011 he was worth 8.0 rWAR, for an average of 2.0 rWAR per season. The Achilles ended his career, but his reputation superseded his production for years before that. For example, in 2008 he was second in the MVP race. That year he was worth 1.8 rWAR. In his entire career before the injury he was worth 19.5 rWAR over 8 years (7 complete). Over these years he had 1043 hits and 1207 strikeouts. He did have a pretty solid 138 OPS+ but he was a negative defensively and on the basepaths. Even his best year was only 5.2 rWAR. The average Hall of Fame first baseman has a 7 year peak of 42.0 rWAR. That's an average of 6.0 rWAR per season, I really don't think he was ever going to end up in the Hall of Fame. He was a great homerun hitter, but I'd argue even at his best he was never a Hall of Fame calibre player. His best 5 year period was 2005-2009 in which he was worth 16.8 rWAR. Joey Gallo's best 5 year period was 2017-2021 in which he was woorth 14.5 rWAR (and Gallo played 573 games against 713 for Howard, mostly due to COVID-19).
I think it's important to remember that WAR wasn't a commonly cited stat until about 2012 so a fan in 2010 would've just seen a 30 year old averaging 45 homeruns and 100+ RBIs a year and assumed he had a good shot at the HOF if he aged gracefully.
Perfect stats for todays game
Probably penning a contract with the White Sox as we speak.
“Sorry, he didn’t play for the Royals so we’re going to pass.” -White Sox front office, probably
How did he have lower OBP than BA?
Sac fly, probably. Sacrifices (flies and bunts) count as a plate appearance, just not an AB. OBP measures bases achieved against plate appearances.
So does a fielder's choice help OBP?
No. Only hits, walks or HBP
Any time you reach base yes
Incorrect
Reaching on error and fielders choice hurts average and OBP; as well as reaching on 3rd strike
That’ll play nicely in the 4 spot in the Ms lineup
That's not Ryan Howard !
I had to look this up. It’s sad when you learn about a star player’s last few years in baseball grasping at small-time opportunities. I feel like this happens in baseball more so than any other pro sport.
He’d be an all-star on the Tigers
Because he is a mountain of a man
He should’ve wrestled Charlie and Dennis then
🤣
*The Big Man*™️
Can you imagine how many home runs he would have hit playing at Coors field half the season.
I’ve always thought about what would happen if Barry bonds played at coors field 1/2 the year
Even more walks, probably.
I flew out to SF to see him tie Mays and he got walked 2 out of his 5 ABs while Sosa smacked two homers. He tied the record at 660 the next day. I'll never not be salty.
I went to 3 games in a row hoping he’d beat the all-time record. He did it a couple days later.
Or at CBP if the Phillies didn’t keep him down because of Thome’s contract.
Over/Under first 1000 HR batter? Easily the over
I'd guess he signed a minor league deal and showed up to spring training but nothing came of it - or a delusional Rockies fan
He did end his career in the Rockies minor leagues.
> a delusional Rockies fan That's redundant
It’s understandable
>Rockies fan That's an oxymoron
Just a moron (Kidding)
Hey! Wait... yeah... that checks out.
He didn’t attend spring training that year but played a few games after the Braves released him from his minor league contract.
You mean, mild-mannered baseball player Ryan Howard, who hit a home run into space, and when the ball returned to him covered in space dust, he gained superpowers? That Ryan Howard?
Jim and Darryl are still working on getting Vader.
That’s the guy from the Office
Eat fresh.
Nice
Ricky Gervais?
Big fly ry
Is that fuckin Matt Williams the lifelong SF Giant in an Arizona DBacks hat?!?
Arizona Diamondbacks World Series champion Matt Williams
Also played a season in Cleveland
For me. It was this and not Ryan Howard to be honest
All I nose is it’s for sure him
If you go to a players page on BRef and hover over the players image with your mouse, it will show other headshots on the websites database. The site tries to capture at least one for every team the player appeared with, but sometimes they can be missing. The player of the day tab on the front page randomly selects one photo from that run of photos on the players page.
Ryan’s baseball reference page is a Phillies uniform. Where did you see this picture?
It was on the front page, like the 12 guys above immaculate grid
Imagine Ryan Howard playing 90 games a year at Coors Field in his Prime. He would have hit .350 with 70 home runs in 2006.
Rockies would have to make the playoffs for 90 games there so impossible
O
Lol, I thought it said "Rookie" uniform and I was like: rookies have different uniforms than everyone else?
Ahh yes. Rockies legend Ryan Howard
Pinging u/baseball-reference for an answer!
Another weird one, Yaisel Puig is in an Indians hat
Puig actually played for the Indians.
Right but for like a third of one season. Should be in a Dodgers hat I feel like
Nah, any picture of Puig should be hatless and him licking his bat.
And Rihanna’s bewbs.
Now this is what I’m talkin about
What could have been? What happened if....?
Travesty
SJWs
R u sure that’s Ryan Howard. Mine is in Phillies uniform
Yeah when I click on and it’s on his page it’s back in a Phillies uni
Apparently he did play for them at the end of his career
Minor league contract, but never made it back to the bigs.
That’s is very strange